Truss-bridge



(mmel') c. & G. CARR.

TBUSS BRIDGE.

No. 328,758. Patented Oct. 20 1885. "I 1 I, 13. a (if V .Attorney! N.PETERS. Phoxo-Limu m nu. Washin ton, 0.6.

ilNrrnn STATES PATENT Orrrca.

CHARLES CARE AND GEORGE CARR, OF SUGAR TREE RIDGE, OHIO.

TRUSS-BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,758, dated October20, 1885.

Application filed August 27, 1885. Serial No. 175,479. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES CARR and GEORGE CARR, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Sugar Tree Ridge, in the county of Highlandand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTruss Bridges, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspectiveView of a truss-bridge embodying our improvements. Figs. 2 and 3 aredetails to be hereinafter referred to.

Our invention relates to truss-bridges; and the same consists in theimproved construction and combination of devices, all of which will behereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our improvements, wewill describe its construction and the manner in which we have carriedit out.

In the said drawings, A represents the main beams or sills, upon whichthe planks which constitute the floor are laid; or, if it be desired,these beams may be dispensed with and the tie-rod A used.

B represents the truss-beam, which is conneeted to the struts O andsupported by the diagonal braces D, as shown. It will be observed thetruss-beam B is made thicker or of increased diameter at its center.This construction we have found giving greater strength and securitythan if the beam was of uniform thickness. The lower ends of the bracesD and struts O are adapted to fit sockets a, formed in the main beams orsills A, and they are securely held to these beams by the tie-bolts aand securing-nuts b, (see Fig. 3,) thereby dispensing with metallicshoes or similar devices.

Beneath the truss-beams and securely held thereto are placed supportingtrussbeams E, the under surface of each being cut away at c to formsockets, in which the upper ends of the inclined braces or struts D fitand greatly assist in supporting the upper truss-beam.

Beneath the main beams or sills A are the beams F, which are placedtransverse to the beams A, and are connected directly to the uppertruss-beam in a manner we will now explain. The upper trussbeams areprovided with metallic plates G, which are arranged transversely acrosstheir top portions, and these plates are perforated to receive the upperends of the rods H H, which connect the plates with the beams F, whilethe nuts (I secure the parts together and regulate the tension of therods. The rods H H are located upon each side of the upper trussbeam andthe main sills, and therefore do not weaken these main features in allbridges by passing through them. They are also provided with a tap at 6,(see Fig. 3,) so that any one (or more) of the beams F may bedisconnected and removed and a new beam inserted without deranging theother portions of the structure, and also without interfering with thetravel 011 the same.

To keep the several parts of the bridge from becoming loose, we employsuitable brace-rods, J, connected directly to the transverse beams F andthe upper truss-beams, and these bracerods have eyes 9 9, through whichpass bolts h, which secure thelower end of the brace-rods to the beams Fand the rods H or H, which secure the upper ends of said brace. When theseveral pieces which form thebridge have been placed in position, thesides of the structure are boarded up with strips, as illustrated inFig. 2. The ends of the beams F, which project at some distance beyondthe sides of the bridge, may be covered with sheet metal. Thisconstruction greatly adds to the durability of the structure, as itprevents the injurious effect of the weather upon the same, While theadditional strength given the upper truss-beam by reason of its centralportion being made heavier or of increased size, and the fact that therods H H may be readily removed to repair the bridge without damagingthe other portions, makes the bridge when completed much stronger, moredurable, and cheaper than many of the structures now made.

A plate, 7, is introduced between the sill A and the transverse beams F,and is for the purpose of supporting that portion of the bridge when.its underlying beam F is removed to be replaced by a new one.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the main beams or sills, the struts O, and thetransverse beams F, of the upper trussbeam, B, enlarged at its center,the struts or bracesD D, and suitable rods, porting-beams E, the platesG, through which H H, passing outside of and connecting the the rodspass, the bolts and nuts for securing upper truss-bean1s with thetransverse beams, the parts, and the brace-rods J, connected tosubstantially as herein described. the beams F and plates G,substantially as 5 2. The combination, with the upper trusshereindescribed.

beam enlarged at itscenter, the main sills, the beams F, placed underthe sills, the end struts, O, and the braces D D, fitted in sockets inthe W'itnesses: sills, of the rods H H, passing outside of and 10connecting the beams 13 and F and the supoHARnEs CARR. GEQRGE CARR.

A. D. WIGGINS, ROBERT J. MAsTnRs.

